Do you believe in wisdom and inner guidance?

For me, wisdom isn't special; it is natural. Guidance isn't rare it is everywhere. Both wisdom and inner guidance is just about accepting. If you accept that your Self is Whole, worthy and well. Wisdom and inner guidance are yours, even if there is only a little bit of willingness; can bring untold amounts of wisdom. Just a thought.

Aug 3 2013:
John D. Rockefeller followed his inner guidance. By the age of 53 he was the wealthiest man in the world. He was also a most miserable man, being respected, envied, and despised. He had no real friends. His health was so bad that it was expected he wouldn't live another year. It was then that he came to the realization that should he die, he couldn't take a single dime with him. With that revelation, he thought about what he could do to give back to the world. He founded the Rockefeller center and poured millions into charitable organizations. In giving back, his life took a turn in a positive direction. He began to sleep peacefully, regained his appetite, and his health improved almost miraculously. The love he was projecting returned to him tenfold. The man who wasn't expected to reach his 54th birthday went on to live to the ripe old age of 98. (Taken from "None of These Diseases" by S.I.McMillen, M.D.)

Inner wisdom has to come from something beyond ourselves. We are easily deceived by our own desires. Only when we see ourselves as part of a greater whole do we truly see.

Jul 29 2013:
People can learn and such learning is internalized to influence actions. I also agree that decisions are influenced by instincts (which are "inner") and by values (which once internalized are "inner").

I don't know what you mean by wisdom in the context of your question. I don't believe that having confidence in yourself guarantees that your decisions will be wise.

Aug 5 2013:
Hello, teresa proctor. Of course self accepting is really important to be confident or to know oneself deeply. I think wisdom is some kind of different thing from knowledge or information. Wisdom implies the meaning of value, the inner value and it could be related to inner guidance. Because both things are connected in that human uses them as controliing oneself or improving one' s life.

Jul 31 2013:
Inner guidance is all there ultimately is.
If one is listening, quieting all the noise both inside and outside, and creating
a quiet mind from which or in which to "hear", "see", "feel", "sense", "receive"
the guidance that comes from knowing all already.

I believe humans have knowledge of all things. It is only a matter of remembering
and that is primarily an act of listening, and then acting upon it, usually immediately,
without care nor concern for what will happen. It is also, ultimately, of no concern
whatsoever.
Whether it be God or It or whatever, IT is speaking to all of us in whatever is
happening at the time, the exact moment, but we are rarely awake nor willing
to listen to it, because we are listening to all the "noise".

Jul 30 2013:
In my view, wisdom is definitely not from "If you accept that your Self is Whole, worthy and well, then wisdom and inner gudanece are yours...." Because wisdom comes from good experience or good model,and is cultured, taught and guided by knowledge from historical models. Inner guidance can't be wise unless one has already acquired the proper wisdom.
As a handy example, all the current "me first" generation in America believes that they are whole, worthy and well, but actually most of them are not quite as they believe in themselves. Therefore, we can't say that all of them are having wisdom and good inner guidance.
Also, religious teaching is also trying to build inner guidance and enhance personal wisdom. But, of course, it isn't the only way to gain the wisdom or to improve the IG.
In fact, one characteristics of the wisdom is unselfishness which contradicts the "confidence" of believing that one's self is whole, worthy and well. These chracteristics have to be recognized by the others in the community, rather than just by the people themselves.

Jul 30 2013:
Bart, I appreciate your view point. However confidence is not self acceptance, from my view point. Wisdom comes from "me" accepting I am whole, I am worthy of love and All is well. When we are able to stop judging others and ourselves and move into acceptance, we are now able to open ourselves up to the greater possibilities in life coming from love, peace, unity and connection.

For me, I don't feel my worth is determined by others. My worth does do not come from confidence or judgment, it comes from acceptance. Just a thought

Jul 31 2013:
Why do you think accepting yourself as whole and worthy of love would necessarily make you wise?

In your mind is being open to love, peace, and connection identical to wisdom?

Why could someone without wisdom not also accept himself as whole and worthy of love? Why could someone without wisdom not be open to love and connection?

Is everyone you know who accepts himself as whole and worthy of love wise about all things? Are only the wise people you know open to love and connection?

I only want to encourage you to look a little more deeply into your claim by asking yourself why. I know you say it is just a thought, but that shouldn't preclude your examining your thought more deeply, I think, than you may have done.

Jul 30 2013:
Disclaimer:My opinions are separate and distinct from anything to do with God's dealing with Mankind. Something deep inside me is guiding me to say I do believe in IG, but my experience regarding the proper, optimum, application of my knowledge is leading me to reject the idea. IG seems metaphysical while wisdom comes from experience. The product of both is conviction. Some folks operate predominately on IG. These people usually die young and many win Darwin Awards. I think the two stand opposed to one another. Decision making is an either/or situation. Follow your IG, or, go with the sum of your experience and knowledge. IG is a poor Risk Assessor when compared to wisdom. So, to answer the question: IG is a figment of the human imagination. Wisdom is the act of utilizing one's accumulated knowledge in the optimum manner. Again, none of my remarks have anything to do with the separate subject of Man's relationship with the Creator.

Jul 31 2013:
Hmmm. Wisdom should enable one to discern between imaginary acquisition of Information (IG) and actual Truth. It would be wrong to credit IG with the (wise) decision to not stick one's hand into an open flame after having done it before. But, you are right, just because it is wrong does not mean people do not do it. Like I said, IG will eventually get you a Darwin Award. Be wise and well!

Jul 31 2013:
Fritzie, I appreciate your response. However, I am not in judgment. I am in acceptance of all. I am also not here to justify but share, learn, grow and move forward, which is my greatest joy for all. After all, I believe we are All part of the whole/oneness. Just a thought.

Jul 31 2013:
But are you here also to look more deeply into your own views, really listening to others with an open attitude and considering the questions they raise? Learning and growth do come from such activities rather than only stating hardened views. Just a thought.

Jul 30 2013:
Hi Dear teresa proctor,wisdom needs hard work to cultivate in our whole life,it isn't just from natural,I think people can be wiser not only from inner guidance but also outside of world help,of course ultimate work from inner world.

Jul 30 2013:
Fritzie, I appreciate your response, for me wisdom is within, it is something that we all have access to, if we have the willingness to connect. I am not referring to confidence. Wisdom is natural and for most of us we tend to loose touch, we substitute knowledge for wisdom, and in my world they are they different. I hope I have conveyed my point a little bit more. Just a thought.

Jul 30 2013:
I like Robert's response below. Wisdom involves understandings gained through experience. There are people who consider themselves whole, worthy, and well, in your words- who accept themselves absolutely- who may not make wise decisions or attain the "deep understanding and realization..." Robert describes.

Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions (the "passions") so that universal principles, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one's actions. Wisdom is also the comprehension of what is true coupled with optimum judgement as to action.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom)

The philosophy of self seeks to describe essential qualities that constitute a person's uniqueness or essential being. There have been various approaches to defining these qualities. The self can be considered that being which is the source of consciousness; the agent responsible for an individual's thoughts and actions; and/or the substantial nature of a person which endures and unifies consciousness over time.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self)

Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behavior") is the differentiation of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are "good" (or right) and those that are "bad" (or wrong). The philosophy of morality is ethics. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morality)

To me, wisdom comes with experience, observation, and thought as one applies their moral code to life. The successes and failures, triumphs and tragedies, and lessons from life-long learning form a knowledge base that can be used to solve problems, predict outcomes and help people find inner peace in life. Their willingness to share this knowledge and apply it forward to new situations, using it to help others with similar problems, might be considered wisdom shared with others.

Some of what TED conversations provide their readers might be considered shared wisdom.